Control Your Breathe While Practicing Yoga

Many of the choices we make are based on subconscious signals that we interpret from the world around us. Although we like to think we have control over most outside influences, the reality is that there are so many details that go unnoticed.

One of these hidden influences is color. Do you opt for a particular color in your practice but you are not sure why? Read on to see what emotions and ideas each color suggests. Learn what message your yoga apparel is sending to the outside world and how to adapt your outfit to your mood.

Green – Often associated with nature, green can represent growth, development, security, and comfort. This color also suggests movement and new beginnings, and, therefore, can also suggest optimism. Wearing the color green can bring a sense of harmony to your spirit and practice.

Red – Bold, loud, passionate and intense, red is considered a fiery color that fuels emotion. Movement, power, competition, and conflict are also associated with the color red. Signs indicating danger are often red, so the color often promotes alertness and stimulation. Wearing the color red can attract attention and boost confidence.

Purple – Often associated with royalty, purple suggests luxury, power, and longevity. Because it is not very common in the natural world, purple can also symbolize mystery and creativity.

Blue – Depth and clarity are often associated with this color because of its presence in nature, such as the sky, oceans and rivers. Power can also be associated with the color blue, but more often in a commanding, protective sense rather than a confrontational, threatening sense. Blue is also associated with intelligence and sincerity. Wearing blue can project to others that they can confide in you.

Yellow – Reminiscent of childhood, the color yellow conjures feelings of happiness, lightheartedness, and playfulness. It also evokes positivity and stimulating energy, making it a motivational color. Because yellow is such a striking color and can cause agitation when overused, try to use it conservatively in your outfit.

Orange – Orange suggests joy, energy, and warmth. It can also provoke creativity and motivation. The color orange can also symbolize good health, youth, and strength.

White – Lightness, purity, health, and cleanliness are all associated with the color white. In addition, the afterlife, faith, and infinity are commonly associated with the color.

Black – While sometimes associated with death, evil and mourning, the color black also suggests power, prestige, sophistication, and style. Therefore, it can also suggest sharpness and precision.

While colors can send certain messages to the others, you can also use colors to encourage your own emotions.

Need a boost of confidence? Red

Yearning for serenity? Green

Feeling down? Yellow

Aiming for precision within your practice? Black

Trying to establish the trust to build friendships with others around you? Blue

Feeling lazy or out of shape? White

By donning hues that emit certain emotions you are striving for, you can effectively use colors to set meaningful intentions for your practice and your day.

Downward dog is probably the most used yoga pose in classes. It is often used as a transition between other poses and often its benefits are overlooked.

What are the benefits of Downward Dog?

First of all, it strengthens the arms, wrists, and shoulders. You are placing a lot of weight into your wrists and arms and also pushing up and rotating through your shoulders. Secondly, as this pose is an inversion you gain all the benefits of an inversion without having to perform anything too difficult. Inversions help to unblock sinuses and get mucus moving (great if you are blocked up). They also help blood flow through the body especially towards the head which both energizes and calms the brain. Thirdly, it stretches pretty much the whole body which should make you feel great!

The spine is elongated and the chest is opened. Practiced often, this can help to relieve back and neck pain. Becoming more aware of our bodies during a yoga session can also help us in everyday life. Instead of hunching over a desk, we become more likely to sit up straight and gain a better posture. As well as stretching the upper body most of us feel a huge stretch in the backs of our legs (in our hamstrings and calves). For me especially this feels amazing, great if you’ve just been for a run or a cycle.

How to Get Into This Pose

Start on your hands and knees (so as you look like a table). The spine should be long and straight, your knees should be directly underneath your hip bones and your wrists underneath your shoulders.

Move your hands forward roughly one-hands length.

Curl your toes under, press into them and begin to lift your knees off the floor.

Start to now straighten the legs, keep your hands and feet where they are but put your bottom up towards the sky.

Your chest should be pushing back towards your knees and your heels towards the floor.

If somebody took a picture of you now you would look an upside down ‘V’.

Stay here, get comfortable and don’t forget to breathe!

Things to Remember

Your heels don’t have to touch the floor.

Your neck should be relaxed and hanging like a bowling ball between your arms.

Your hips should be pushing back and upwards towards the sky.

As you gaze back at your feet you should not see your heels (your legs should be slightly inwardly rotating).

If you have any problems with your wrists and you can’t put weight into them try making a fist.

If you are pregnant this pose is not advisable – you can try this pose leaning against a wall rather than on the floor (you will still get the same stretch but you will not be inverting)